BEHOLD

BEHOLD
Trees, A Visual Exploration

Year: 2007 – present

Location: Washington Square Park, NYC

Dimensions: Variable

Materials: Light, sound, animation, projection, tree

Project Team

At the root of our ecological crisis is the notion that humans are separate from nature. To transition to a sustainable future for this planet we need to better understand how everything is interconnected. Trees are all around us. A tree is a symbol of life and knowledge, yet few comprehend how a tree works and how it is integral to the entire ecosystem. Though the physiology of trees is invisible, the data generated by scientific research can be animated into a compelling visual form that mimics natural living processes. An accessible interactive visual experience can lead to heightened public awareness of the critical role of trees, stimulating curiosity about the inner workings of the natural world.

BEHOLD: Trees, A Visual Exploration is a proposed artistic and educational augmented reality experience that visualizes the complex natural systems of iconic urban trees and their interrelationship with their immediate physical environment. Uniting science and technology with art, BEHOLD will present a living tree and its processes as a compelling visualization of live ecological data – the tree’s ‘vitals’. Beginning at the foot of the oldest tree in Manhattan, the English elm in Washington Square Park, one will be able to use AR smartphone technology in-situ, in the classroom, or anywhere, to see the magnified internal systems at work by looking up into the branches, through the trunk and down into the roots.

Live physiological processes will be represented three dimensionally and digitally superimposed on the chosen tree through a smart device app, which will be scalable as a tabletop model. The application is intended as both a creative educational platform and public database. The live data stream and the augmented reality application will remain accessible, user-friendly and free as an unrestricted resource. The underlying code will be adaptable to any tree once the initial build is complete, creating the infrastructure for a potentially global project.

BEHOLD aims to foster a public platform for creatively sharing research and data in a way that engages a broad audience, encourages environmental stewardship, and ultimately facilitates the development of a common language for a new dialogue between science and art. By working with local governments and non-profits to expand BEHOLD into diverse neighborhoods, we will strengthen public ecological literacy and inspire a sense of stewardship within each community. This shared experience will encourage a deeper scientific and environmental awareness in the public, emphasizing the fact that we are part of and responsible for the natural world.